FLETCHER ENDORSES GONZALEZ FOR ASSEMBLY

Former San Diego Assemblyman and mayoral candidate Nathan Fletcher has endorsed Lorena Gonzalez in her bid for the 80th District Assembly seat.

“I believe she has the skills and leadership needed to get things done in Sacramento,” Fletcher said Wednesday. “We haven’t always agreed on everything, but I’ve grown to respect her as someone who is smart, committed and principled.”

Gonzalez, secretary-treasurer of the San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council, is running against fellow Democrat Steve Castaneda to fill the Assembly seat vacated by Ben Hueso, who was elected to the state Senate this month.

Gonzalez has racked up numerous endorsements, many of which Castaneda said he discounts.

“Not many of the groups or folks that have endorsed Lorena actually live in the district and won’t be casting votes,” the former Chula Vista City Councilman said. “We have quite a few endorsements, and I’m not really affected by those that have endorsed her.”

He declined to say how much money he has raised for a special election expected to take place in June to replace Hueso, who was elected March 12 to the Senate seat held by Juan Vargas until he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in November.

The finance reports show Gonzalez had raised more than $126,000 while Castaneda had about $4,300.

Fletcher is a former Republican who switched to independent during his bid for mayor. He now works at Qualcomm in corporate development and said he came to respect Gonzalez while working with her recently on immigration reform and during talks last year to resolve a threatened janitors’ strike.

The 80th District includes Chula Vista, National City the San Ysidro, City Heights, Barrio Logan, Sherman Heights, Otay Mesa, and Paradise Hills neighborhoods.